1967 and all that
s'funny how everybody got uptight in May when President Obama spoke of an Israel-Palestine peace agreement based on the 1967 boundaries with land swaps (presumably to take account of some current...
View ArticleA helpful Yiddish guide to phonehacking
For all that Jews are supposed to control the media, the News International / hacking / News of the World / Brooks / Murdoch scandal has so far played out without much of a kosher angle. But never...
View ArticleThe Mirror and Amy Winehouse's Jewish burial
It seems clear that troubled star Amy Winehouse will have a Jewish burial, after a post-mortem examination. While a hungry media waits for more details: when, where, who will attend, will there be a...
View ArticleDeafening silence
The United Synagogue has a website called You and US, from which this week the aroma of sour grapes can be detected. It reprints on the site a letter from the registrar of the London Beth Din, David...
View ArticleIsrael - a "holiday" from Hell?
Admittedly I’m not a regular reader of the West Sussex County Times, but something in this week’s paper caught my eye.The paper has an exclusive, headlined “Woman describes her Israel trip from hell”,...
View ArticleAn Israeli Autumn?
A major dilemma is fast looming for that larger part of the diaspora which, if not subservient to the slogan 'Israel right or wrong', feels emotionally, ideologically, even, it might be said, tribally...
View ArticleThe Times and Amy Winehouse's Jewish funeral
Following Monday's moan about the Mirror and its not-entirely-accurate report about Amy Winehouse's funeral, here's another.The Times today dedicated the majority of a double-page spread to the...
View ArticleThe Sacks Chumash
The Chief Rabbi’s eagerly-awaited new Rosh Hashanah machzor should be reaching the shops within a week or two.It is published by Koren, who have already produced a version of his (green) Singer’s...
View ArticleThe subtle delegitimisation of Israel
It was with a heavy heart that I wrote this story– about the curious absence of Israel from Pull and Bear's global list. I like the chain and shop there sporadically; in fact, the very reason I noticed...
View ArticleYiddish praise for Louise Mensch
Some nice haimishe praise for married-to-a-Jew MP Louise Mensch, as she responds to allegations of drug taking and other misdemeanours from an investigative journalist. Her reply - essentially "what a...
View ArticleTalking won't make all the bigots shut up
Ten days on from the horrific massacre at a Norwegian youth camp and the debate about the far-right, extremism and multiculturalism continues to rage on the comment pages and blogosphere.Libby Purves,...
View ArticleJody McIntyre and the Tottenham riots: quelle surprise
Two days after the worst rioting in Tottenham since the 1980s, and the facts of what happened are slowly coming together. What's already fairly clear is that not all the rioters were locals; as David...
View ArticleManners maketh
Just when London and the metropolitan manners are getting truly awful, a timely reminder that there is life outside the Great Wen and, indeed, it is courteous. I spent part of last week in Scotland, on...
View ArticleIsrael's forgotten man?
Travelling around northern Israel a couple of weeks ago something caught my eye.Along the motorways, in the shopping malls, in villages, I saw dozens of posters and billboards featuring a man's face...
View ArticleThe next Chief Rabbi?
It’s anyone’s guess who will be the next Chief Rabbi after Lord Sacks retires in two years.But two rabbis from abroad tipped as possible successors will be visiting next month and teaching on the...
View ArticlePractise what you tweet? Not these activists
I'm all for legitimate protest, so while I might view a group called UK Friends of Palestine & (dissident) Israel with suspicion, I wouldn't want to say they shouldn't have a platform.According to...
View ArticleFascinating Tosh
I am ever fascinated by the world of the chassidim, especially when introduced to a dynasty of which I had no previous knowledge and which, in general, has managed to remain aloof from the outside...
View ArticleMichele Bachmann: The (not) Jewish presidential hopeful
As with every US Presidential election, the candidates are after the Jewish vote. (The fact that they'd also quite like to capture the Christian vote, the Muslim vote, the Humanist vote and the votes...
View ArticleStruggling to pay the bills
A poignant letter in this week’s Jewish Tribune reveals one family's battle to keep their head above water in these hard economic times.The anonymous writer used to raise money for Jewish schools, then...
View ArticleFrom Oxford to Ramallah
An unexpected spanner has been thrown into the intention of Ramallah to seek recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN later this month. A leading Oxford academic and legal expert has warned that,...
View ArticleNot in my lifetime
I have always believed – sometimes, admittedly, in desperation – that what opponents, enemies even, address to each other in public does not truly reflect the life-and-death stuff of which they talk in...
View ArticleJudah Maccabee: as told by Mel Gibson
What could possibly go wrong?Who wouldn't want to see a film about a celebrated Jewish warrior made by a man who has made his views on just how nasty those Jews are pretty darn clear?Mel Gibson as...
View ArticleWhere were you when........?
As almost a lifetime critic of Israel's lack of public relations skills, I have watched even more aghast than usual as Turkey's Erdogan has made the running against Israel with his portrayal of her...
View ArticleDavid Cameron, Durban and dancing at the UN
Political life often seems to be something of a dance, a complicated balancing act in order to offend no-one, appease everyone and commit yourself to nothing.So kudos to David Cameron for (finally)...
View ArticleUJS's "radical, progressive" campaign? Sensible, or a cause for concern?
The Union of Jewish Students announced plans this week to launch a "radical, progressive" campaign, encouraging students to speak up for the rights and "liberation" of both Israelis and Palestinians.It...
View ArticleMetal gurus
Earlier this year I ran an article about an enigmatic collection of lead books which, it was being argued, were ancient Jewish mystical texts. Immediately, rival theories began to appear all over the...
View ArticleNo copy cats, just coincidence...
There’s been weird stuff going on between The Times fashion pages and The JC fashion pages… cue X Files music.Last Saturday, September 24, the Times carried a fashion story about impossibly high shoes,...
View ArticleWas there a touch of divine intervention at Balenciaga on first day Rosh...
Was I the only (Jewish) person on Planet Fashion who wondered whether there was a spot of divine intervention going on in Paris during Fashion Week when not one but three benches – and front row...
View ArticleThe Honey Trap
I have a seasonal confession to make: I don’t like honey.From early years, I have avoided spreading it on my challah or dipping my apple in it.As a child, I used to sprinkle sugar on them instead.But...
View ArticleGilad Shalit
Within hours of the news breaking that a deal has been done to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, the debate about whether it is proper to exchange hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for the sake of...
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